Physical Description
The red-shanked douc is distinguished by its bright maroon/red "stockings" which run from its knees to its ankles. Otherwise it is similar in appearance to the grey-shanked douc, with a golden face, white chin and dark grey to black hands and feet. The black-shanked douc has a largely greyish blue face. The tail of all 3 species is as long as the body.

Size
Height: 53 - 76cm
Tail: 56 - 76 cm
Weight: 5-11kg

Habitat and Ecology
These animals are predominantly arboreal but may occasionally come to the ground. They are found in evergreen, semi-evergreen and semi-evergreen-mixed deciduous forest mosaics, as well as in coastal dry forest.

Range States
Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam

Population and Distribution
The grey-shanked douc langur is critically endangered with a population estimated to be around 550-700, The red-shanked douc langur and the black-shanked langur are both endangered. Populations of all 3 species have declined by 50-80% over the last 30 years.

The beautiful red-shanked douc langur is only found in north and central Vietnam and Laos. Its habitat is in the lowland to montane primary and secondary rainforest where it lives in the mid to upper levels of the canopy.

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Priority region

What are the main threats?

The main threats to all 3 species of douc langurs are habitat loss and hunting. The forests on which douc langurs depend are disappearing at an exponential rate as logging and agricultural conversion continues.

Douc langurs are hunted for food, for use in traditional medicine and for sale as pets. Laws aimed at protecting them are not always effectively enforced.

What is WWF doing?

WWF's Greater Mekong Programme focuses on the region where douc langurs live, WWF is working with local communities, government partners and industry across Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to help conserve the rich biodiversity and natural ecosystems, upon which the region's future depends.

Specific work has included programmes to monitor primates, ecological research of red-shanked langurs, conservation planning, improved park management and technical assistance to combat wildlife trade.